UPDATED: Talks Break Off After Essex County Library Board Presents CUPE With Final Offer

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Last updated: Saturday November 26th, 9:26am

Talks have broken off between CUPE and the Essex County Library Board after the board presented the union with what they call a final offer.

“We have presented what we consider to be our best and final offer” said Essex County Library Board Chair, Richard Meloche. “We believe it is a fair agreement for employees and one that we hope that CUPE will seriously consider, so that we can return library services to our communities”.

But in a news release, the union says that they made several moves to settle the strike, but to no avail.

The union says that they gave the employer everything they wanted and more, except for one issue that is important to their members. They said even prepared to forego wage increases and a signing bonus if management would compromise on the sick-leave issue.

“We want to get back to serving the public and re-open our community hubs for residents. We said all along our dispute was not about money. It’s about protecting our working conditions and rejecting the employers’ attack on our members, many of them part-time workers, “the release stated. “We do not understand how management can stubbornly cling to a position that will cost the county more money, especially when we have offered to forego wage increases.”

No future talks are planned.